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Temporary Outdoor Seating for Restaurants

The City of Largo has no formal outdoor dining regulations in the City’s Comprehensive Development Code and Code of Ordinances.

To accommodate local business owners and assist with compliance under the Governor’s Executive Order 20-112 issued on April 29, the City has created temporary guidelines for seating at restaurants in open outdoor spaces, such as lawns and parking areas. These guidelines will help ensure businesses remain generally in compliance with the intent of the City's Comprehensive Development Code, Florida Building Code, and Florida Fire Prevention Code while maintaining safe social distancing within restaurant capacity limits under the executive order. Temporary outdoor seating is only allowed while the executive order is in effect.

To support local restaurants, the Planning and Development Services staff will offer a courtesy review of restaurants' informal outdoor seating plan. When the review is completed, a representative of the restaurant will be required to sign a letter agreeing to comply with the guidelines. There is no fee for the review.

Plan Review
Restaurants that wish to provide temporary outdoor dining are requested to submit a sketch, drawn to scale, to Planning and Development Services staff for a courtesy review. The submission should have sufficient detail so that the staff can determine the layout and location on the site. A layout on a survey is preferred but not required. There will be no fees for these reviews and staff will expedite the reviews with the intent to complete them within two business days of submission. Plans can be submitted to Planner On Call by emailing AskAP[email protected].

Guidelines:
In addition to compliance with the Executive Order requiring dining tables to be spaced at least six feet apart and no more than ten people to be seated at a table, the outdoor seating area should be configured to ensure:

  • Tables do not block entrances, exits, fire lanes, hydrants, sprinkler connection points, drive aisles, back-up areas, solid waste collection, pedestrian, or handicapped access.

  • Parking spaces may be used for dining tables, but there must be a physical barrier or separation to protect customers from vehicle traffic, such as bollards, barricades, or planter boxes.

  • The outdoor seating plan must meet Fire Department standards, including points of egress, access to fire extinguishers, and tent and awning ratings, if applicable.

  • Restaurants with a liquor license must obtain approval from the state to serve alcohol in an outdoor area.

  • Restaurants that use outdoor seating must ensure that outdoor dining areas are maintained and free of trash and other debris.

  • Two temporary signs will be allowed. Each individual sign should be no more than three (3) square feet in size and each parcel of land shall have no more than two (2) total temporary signs at any one time. Temporary signage may not be placed in the right-of-way. All other temporary signage such as banners, feather signs, inflatables, and the like will require a permit.

  • Operating hours may not exceed the hours of indoor seating.

  • Tents 100 square feet (10ft x 10ft) or smaller are allowed without a permit provided they meet the following requirements:

    • All tent fabric shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria contained in Test Method 2 of NFPA 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films.

    • There shall be a minimum of 10 ft (3050 mm) between stake lines.

    • The finished ground level enclosed by any tent, and the finished ground level for a reasonable distance, but for not less than 10 ft (3050 mm) outside of such a tent, shall be cleared of all flammable or combustible material or vegetation that is not used for necessary support equipment. The clearing work shall be accomplished to the satisfaction of the authority having jurisdiction prior to the erection of such a tent. The premises shall be kept free from such flammable or combustible materials during the period for which the premises are used by the public.

    • Smoking shall not be permitted in any tent. In areas where smoking is prohibited, plainly visible signs shall be posted that read as follows: NO SMOKING

    • Fire-Extinguishing Equipment. Portable fire-extinguishing equipment of approved types shall be furnished and maintained in tents in such quantity and in such locations as directed by the authority having jurisdiction.

Associated Activities, Uses, and Improvements that Require a Permit or Planning Approval and Other Restrictions:

  • Any activity other than outdoor dining such as entertainment, live music, and performances, mobile food trucks shall require the appropriate permits and approvals.

  • Permanent or temporary site alterations or structural improvements, including new accessory structures will require the appropriate approvals and permits.

  • Tents larger than 100 square feet (10ft x 10ft) require a permit.

For More Information Contact please contact the Planner-on-call at 727-587-6700 Ext. 7301 or email [email protected].